Ruach Breath of Life

Concerning the times and the seasons . . . you know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. (1 Thess, 5:1-3) This intensely powerful piece by David Booth permits us for just a very few minutes to share in something of the intense alarm and shock that war brings. Central to this remarkable piece is time, as beaten out by minutes and seconds in an emphasised way. Suddenly the warning sirens sounds, and all becomes confusion and cacophony as destruction is visited on the nation, Bells continue to sound throughout the piece, while the drumbeat of war continues relentlessly on every hand. It would be natural and appropriate to apply this piece to Ukraine. Quite apart from the immense physical damage the unrelenting air raids on its cities have caused the degree of psychological distress they have unleashed exceeds anything one can imagine. The trauma will take those caught up in this maelstrom years recover from. But David had a broader vision even than the war in Ukraine as he prepared this remarkable piece - not least a deep concern for our own nation. The Westminster chimes symbolise home life being disturbed by the sirens; with the trumpet at the end sounding a military call. The clock continues its unabated beat, symbolic of life continuing in amongst the alarms, and the piece concludes with the sound of marching men: a reminder that though the long years of peace have been our familiar friend, the unwelcome sirens can sound at any time for any nation. The greed and cruelty of human rulers know no boundaries or limits. Again and again the Bible looks forward to a reign of peace when the Lord Jesus returns to Earth; but first the world must pass through many painful birth pangs. May the Lord direct and lead you in prayer as you experience the power of this piece.

May the Lord bless the land of Armenia. I improvised this piece a few weeks ago, and after Justin had transcribed it for me, and we have worked on it a bit, I felt it would be good to dedicate it to Armenia, a country with a long Christian tradition, which is taking the risky step of moving away from its heavy dependency on Russia and towards the West. May the Lord move in power to protect Armenia and to draw many more in that land to a living relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Grace Nadin brought us this profoundly beautiful song at the Symphony of Worship Conference in Malvern in 1996. May the words and the music combine to draw us deeper into a flow of Spirit-led prayer.

What a special piece this is! You will love the dramatic fanfares and the lyrical dialogue with the solo instrument. It is very moving! Enjoy it for what it is, but as you listen, and almost certainly will want to listen again, see where the Lord might wish to direct you in prayer. It is a perfect music to accompany prayer to strengthen many people and situations, and to release the power of God far and wide. How special it is to combine music worship and prayer in this way! Thank you again Anthony Thompson, and all who played this piece so beautifully.

Torelli by Ruach Breath of Life

David Booth has recently recorded a really special piece for Flamenco guitar. We called it 'Tender Flamenco!' I recorded this lament to accompany his beautiful guitar piece. It is inspired in part by the Lord's moving words in Jeremiah 2 and 3, where He looks back to the intimacy He used to enjoy with His people, and mourns how far they have backslidden. Let's use this moving piece to pray for people who once walked closely with the Lord, but who no longer do. Heart of my heart, I planted you as noble vine, a seed of the highest quality. I remember how you were, radiant in first love. and I was with you as Friend and Lover, a Mighty Warrior who saves, taking great delight in you, and rejoicing over you with singing;” but now you have turned your back and forgotten Me. (Jer. 2:21; 2-3, Zeph. 3:17) What fault did you find in Me, and what harm have I done that would cause you to stray so far from Me, turning to systems that cannot fail to fail, and building cisterns that contain no trace of My living word? (Jer. 2:5, 13) I went to such lengths to bestow great blessings on you – and if they had been too small, I would have added still more; (2 Sam. 12:8) but like a thoroughbred turning up its nose, you sought to beautify your way by the skill of your own hands (Jer. 2:32-33) and ended up despising all that I have given you. Will you not pause to reconsider, and pour out the gratitude that used to stream from your heart, lest all that is left be an empty shell that you seek to fill in a thousand different ways? I keep a chair reserved at My banquet table here in Heaven for when you return to your Shepherd and your Guide. (Jer. 3:4) My hand is stretched out and My Spirit allures, (Hos. 2:14-15) but I can do no more until you are willing to acknowledge your need and reach out Your hand once more to receive the endless blessings that I have always had in store for you. (Jer. 3:13-14)

It is a great delight to share these three brief 'doodles' that I improvised on the piano with you. After recording them, I sent them to Justin Coldstream, who kindly transcribed them. I then sent them on to James Horsfall, a very talented pianist in Jersey, who shaped, sharpened and played them for us. They are lovely. I sent them to a dozen friends by Whats App, and everyone received clear leadings and impressions as they heard them. Why not put them on a Sound Cloud loop, soak in them for a while and see what moods, emotions, heart cries, people and situations come to mind as you listen!